Improved hitching-post



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JOSIATI OOTHOUDT, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

lMPROVED HlTCHlNG-POST.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 104,875, dated June 28, 1870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosIAH OOTHOUDT, of Minneapolis, in the county ot' Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvement in HitchingPosts; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The nature of my invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a bitchingpost, as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawings, which represent a longitudinal vertical section of my device.

A represents a portion of the pavement o sidewalk, in which is an opening of suitable size, covered with a metal plate, B. From the center of this plate a socket, C, extends downward for a certain distance, through which passes the hitching-post D. This post is, at'

its upper end, provided with a collar, a, and ring b, the collar being for the purpose of supporting the postwhen let down into the ground, the collar resting upon the upper end of the socket C. The ring b is for the purpose of attaching the horses when the post is raised up, as will be presently described.

At the lower end of the hitching-post is a groove around the post, into which a pin, d, springs when the post is drawn up, thus hold ing the {post in the required position and at the required height for the purpose intended. The pin d moves horizontally through a hole in the socket C, and is operated in the following manner:

On the under side of the plate B, in the opening in the sidewalk, are two ears, between which is pivoted a right-angular lever, D. This lever is pivoted at the angle, one end extending vertically downward, and attached to the pin d. The other end of the lever D runs horizontally under the plate B, and is at the end provided With a pin, e, which extends up through the plate B. A spring, E, forces this end of the lever Dl upward, and consequently, also, the pin d into the socket.

The post D being raised up and held by the pin d, as above mentioned, it is only necessary to press down upon the pin e, when the pin d is withdrawn and the post falls down until it rests upon the collar a.

I am aware that there are bitching-posts to lower into the ground, but they have been so arranged that, when raised up, the springs supporting them are above ground, while in my device the entire mechanism is under ground.

If desired, a tube, G, may be affixed to the lower end of the socket C, extending down into the ground, surrounding the hitchingpost, the post thus moving in said tube.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The arrangement under the plate B of the socket G, pin d, lever D', pin e, and spring E, all constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. H. RUST, CHAs. A. EATON. 

